Third-grade student Xavier Howard looks curiously at the voting machines in place for today's elections as he walks down the hallway Friday at Pineville Elementary School.

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Voters in the 5th Congressional District have plenty of choices as they go to the polls today to cast ballots for the district's next representative.

Fourteen candidates are running in the special election for the seat vacated last month by Rodney Alexander's resignation. In the race are five Republicans, four Democrats, two Libertarians, two independents and one Green Party member.

The 5th District includes all are part of 24 parishes, including the Central Louisiana parishes of Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides and Winn. ...